Portable tire repair unit



Dec 9 1947 J. cv. CROWLEY Y 2,432,139

PORTABLE TIRE REPAIR UNIT Filed Dc. 15, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 JNVENTOA .fo-HN C. CROWLEY Dec. 9, 1947.

` .l. C. CROWLEY PORTABLE TIRE REPAIR UNIT Filed Deo. l5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. Jo///y C @Ron/ff fw Wmy/W @wm ,9770/2 /VEIJ Patented Dec. 9, 1947 NITED STATES Nr oFFICE.

PORTABLE TIRE REPAIR UNIT Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,273

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a Vulcanizing unit and particularly to a vulcanizing unit for repairing the casings of pneumatic tires.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved vulcanizing unit which is portable and which can be efficiently and readily used for repairing the casings of pneumatic tires.

Another object is to provide a vulcanizing unit such as speciiied in the rst named object and which unit can be readily adapted for repairing either the side walls of a tire casing or the tread portion of such casing.

Another object is to provide a vulcanizing repair unit for tire casings and wherein the repair material or patch is carried by a plate which is removably attached to a heating element.

A further object is to provide a portable vulcanizing repair unit for tire casings capable of applying pressure to both the inner and outer sides of the casing at the point where the repair is being made and also capable of applying heat to one side only of the casing or to both sides thereof.

A still further object is to provide a vulcanizing repair unit for tire casings wherein the unit can be supported by its clamping or gripping pressure on the tire casing.

Another object is to provide a portable Vulcanizing unit for repairing tire casings and wherein the repairing material or patch and the heating element or elements are separable and are removably attached to the elements oi the unit which provide the clamping or gripping pressure. e

Another object is to provide a portable repair unit for tire casings wherein heat producing members are operatively associated with the means for clamping a portion of the tire casing between said members and which heat producing members are connected in series in an electrical circuit which includes the clamping means as a part of the circuit.

Another object is to provide a portable vulcanizing repair unit for tire casings such as referred to in the last named object and wherein at least one of the heat producing members includes a fusible element which fuses at a predetermined heat to interrupt the circuit through al1 of said heat producing elements.

Another object is to provide portable vulcanizing repair units for tire casings, such as referred to previously herein, and which are simple in design, readily manufactured and eiiiciently and easily used.

Further and additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter during the detailed description which is to follow.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a portable vulcanizing repair unit embodying the invention and shows said unit in clamped, vulcanizing engagement with a side wall of a tire casing.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the unit shown in Fig. l and is taken looking from the left hand side of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l but illustrates the unit adapted for repairing the tread portion of a tire casing, said unit being shown in clamped position on such portion of the casing.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the unit K shown in Fig. 4 and is taken looking from the left hand side of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective view on a larger scale oi one of the supporting straps which removably support the heat producing members of the unit.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View through a slightly diierent form of heat producing member and detachable plate or disk than has been shown in the preceding views and also illustrates a different way of connecting the heat producing member to the supporting element of the unit, said View being taken along line 'l-'l of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 8 is a top plan View of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3, the unit is shown as comprising a support indicated generally at S and which may take the form of a sheet metal stamping or a metal casting or it may be formed of some other suitable material and in some other desired way. The support S comprises a base I0 which has along its opposite longitudinal edges upstanding walls Il and which walls adjacent their outer edges and at each end are extended convergently toward each other as indicated at i2 and then project outwardly in spaced parallel relationship as indicated at I3. Levers L are rockably mounted in the spaced parallel portions I3 of the base on fulcrum pins I4 carried by said base portions. The fulcrum pins H3 are located at the junction of the short arms l5 of the levers L with the long arms I6 thereof. The short arms l5 of the levers L are located intermediate the walls of the support S as clearly shown in the drawings, while the long arms I6 of the levers extend outwardly from the base support. The free ends of the short arms l5 of the levers are pivotally connected to one end of links l1 which .straddle the arms l5 and also straddle and are pivotally connected with the opposite ends of a member now to be described. The member just referred to comprises a pair of contacting plates i8 provided intermediate their ends with bowed complementary semi-circular portions I9 forming together a supporting ring for a purpose later to 3 be pointed out. As previously stated, the links I1 straddle the opposite ends of the straps I8 and said links are'pivotally connected to the straps by means ol' pins 2U.

The supporting ring formed by the semi-cylindrical portions I9 of the plates I8 has mounted therein a tubular part- 2| with said part connected to the supporting ring by means of screws 22 screwed through openings in the supporting ring and in the part 2| and locked in adjusted position by clamping nuts 23. The tubular part 2| is externally threaded as indicatedat -24 and extends into the open end of a sleeve 25 that is closed at its opposite end with said part 2=| screwing into the internal threads of the sleeve. The sleeve '25 extends through a central opening in the base 'I9 of the support `S and has its axial movement relative to said base in one direction limited .by a ange 26 formed on the sleeve and contacting the base in certain positions of .the sleeve. The sleeve 25 is provided with'an elongatedslot 21 and on the side diametrically opposed to said slotwith an opening 28. `Ari actuating knob 29, preferably knurled on its periphery, is mounted on the sleeve 25 and carries a 'screw 30 having a reduced end which engages in lthe slot 21 and hence when said knob is rotated the sleeve 25 will rotate therewith. In certain uses of the unit the knob 29 also lhas a screw 3|, the reduced -inner end of which engages in the opening 28 of the sleeve 25.

The'free ends 'of the varms AI6 o'f the ylevers L are straddled bythe parallel ears 32 of straps which support the heat producing members of the unit and said ears are pivotally connected to the free ends o"f the lever arms I6 by pins 33. Referring `to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the ears 32 are integral with and project from the opposite sides 'of 'straps 34 which have a central portion extending substantially perpendicular to the ears 32 and'have portions which extend from the 'centra] portion at an angle to the plane thereof. The central portions or" the straps 34 Vare provided with centrally located circular bosses or buttons35 for a purpose later to be described. 'The straps Y34 at ktheir opposite ends are Vcurved as 'indicated at 36, and terminate in portions Y31 extending from the straps in the same general direction as the ears 32 but located in planes Vsubstantially at right angles to the 'planes ofthe ears. The portions 31 .of the straps .34 have Asecured to their outer sides retaining members '30 which are provided with separated 'springrngers 39 that have at their -free ends curved por- "tions 49.

The straps 34 as already stated removably hold and support the heat producing members of the unit. These members preferably are of the form shown in my Reissue Patent 21,230, granted vOctober 10, 1939. As stated in said reissue patent,1the vulcanizing unit disclosed therein comprises'a member formed of a pair Vof spaced plates 4| and 42 having therebetween suitable insulation indicated in Fig. 7 at 43 in which is emn bedded an Aelectrical resistance element 44. The p'lates 4| and42, the insulation 43 and the reslstance element 544 are held together in assembled relationship by a hollow'rivet45. One

end 'of the `resistance element Ad4 is .electrically 'connected to atab l46, see Fig.8,while the opposite end of said resistance element may be electrically connected to the plate 42. In Ymy said :reissue patent the plate42 is shown as provided withfa spring Vlinger cut from the material ofthe plate fand underlying an end of 2th,@ Iflslstance element in such manner thatv when said spring finger is pressed in one direction it engages the end of the @resistance element and then the plate 42 Ais electricallyfc'onnected to said element. The vulcanizing unit disclosed in my said Reissue Patent 21,230 also includes a second member in .the form of a disk which is placed against the plate 42 and is provided with a fusible plug that contacts the spring nger of the plate 42 and holds said Ilinger 'in engagement with the end of the resistance `element 4'4. The plate 4| is providedinits-peripheral edges with spaced notches of predetermined size and location and which notchesare engaged by lugs formed on the disk to hold the disk in the proper position. In my Reissue Patent 21,230 the disk carries on its .'free side'the vulcanizing patch. It will be understood that when the resistance element 44 is placed in an electrical circuit vulcanlzing heat 4is produced and when said heat attains toa predetermined degreethefusible plug of the disk 4fuses to automatically `interrupt the circuit through the resistance element. Rather than describe in greater .detail herein the heat producing member and the disk which isa'pplied thereto, reference is made to my said Reissue Patent 21,230 for a complete description of the construction and mode of operation of this device.

The heat producing members :are removably mounted in thestraps 34 and are -held therein by the spring ngers 39 which grip the circumference of the heat producing members at diametrically opposite sides with the curved portions 40 of the fingers engaging in the space between the plates 4| and 42.

As already explained, the disks which carry the vulcanizing patch are held in assembled relation with the heat producing members by means of lugs carried by the disks and engaging in recesses formed in the plate 4|. When the heat ,producing vmembers are positioned or mounted in the straps 34 the buttons 95 vof said straps engage Vin the hollow rivets 45 and'act to center the members in the straps.

It will be seen that when the unit is as illustrated in Fig. l, turning of the knob 29 will rotate theV sleeve 25 but that .said sleeve -is heldagainst axial displacement due to theengagement of the ange 26 and knob A29 with the base I0 ofthe support S. Therefore the turning movement of the .knob 29 and sleeve 25 will screw the tubular member 2| inwardly or outwardly of the sleeve, depending upon the directionof rotation of the knob. When the knob is turned in the direction Ywhich screws the Amember 2| outwardly of the sleeve 25 the levers L will be rocked on their fulcrums to separate the long lever arms I6, the outward movement of such arms being limited by stop pins 46 engaging shoulders v41 formed 4on the portions I3 of the walls of the support S.

Assuming that heat producing members are mounted in the straps 34 and disks are connected to each of said members with one of the disks carrying on its outer side the vulcanizing patch 48, the unit vis positioned relative to the tire casing C to have the side `wall of the tire which is to be repaired extending between the disks of the heat producing members. The knob 29 .is then .rotated to cause the tubular member 2| to screw .into the sleeve V25 and through the plates IE- and links I.1 to rock the levers L until the disks tightly clamp the side wall of the casing between them with the patch 48 located over the break or hole in .the-casing that is to be repaired. The-clamping engagement of the disks with the side wall of the casing acts to hold the unit in position on the casing.

Although one of the heat producing members only may be placed in the electrical circuit with the other member acting merely to apply pressure, it is preferable that both heat producing members be included in the electrical circuit so that heat is applied to the casing from both sides of the side wall thereof. The electrical circu-it may be arranged in the following manner: One side of the circuit is connected to the tab 46 of one heat producing member and the circuit then extends from this tab through the resistance element of said member, the spring arm of the plate 42 of said member, the fusible plug carried by the disk, and thence through the disk and the plate 4| and through the lever arms L and the other parts of the unit and thence through the plates of the other heat producing member, the disk carried thereby and a plug on said disk which, in this instance, need not be a fusible plug. The circuit then extends from such plug, through the spring arm of the plate 42 of the second heat producing member and thence through the resistance element 44 thereof and tab 46 which is connected to the other side of the circuit. In other words, the heat producing members are connected in series in a circuit which includes the clamping levers and the other parts ofthe repair unit but with only 4a fusible plug used inA connection with one of the heat producing elements. When electrical energy is flowing through the resistance elements of the heat producing members and the circuit just referred to, vulcanizing heat will be produced and the patch 48 vulcanized to the side wall of the casing and as soon as the vulcanizing heat reaches a predetermined degree the fusible plug of the one disk will fuse and the circuit will be interrupted through both heat producing members which, as stated, are arranged in series.

The portable repair unit can also be utilized for repairing the tread portion of a tire casing, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. When the repair unit is assembled for repairing the tread portion of a tire casing the ears 32 of the strap members 34 are disconnected from the free ends of the lever arms I6 by removing the pins 33, which pins may have been held in place by means of cotters. The levers L are then spread apart until the stop pins 4B engage the shoulders 4l. A rod 49 is mounted in the tubular member 2! and contacts the closed end of the sleeve 25. One of the strap members 34 is secured to the upper end of the rod 49 by means of a removable pin which passes through the ears 32 and said rod. A heat producing member and a disk are mounted in such strap and the disk is provided with the patch 48 that is to be vulcanized to the tread portion of the casing. lIhe unit is arranged with the rod 49 extending into the casing until the patch contacts that part of the tread portion thereof which is to be repaired. Then a curved connecting member 59, provided at its opposite ends with forked portions, is arranged so that said portions straddle the free ends of the lever arms i6 and are connected thereto by means of removable pins. The curved connecting member 59 is provided intermediate its ends and in line with the rod 49 with an opening so that the other strap 34 can have its ears 32 straddle the member 59 and a connecting pin 5! can be passed through the openings in the ears 32 and the opening in the connecting member. A heat producing member and a disk are mounted in this last mentioned strap and will engage the tread portion of the casing in directly opposed relation -to the engagement thereof by the patch 48.

In order to apply clamping pressure to the tread portion of the casing the screw 3| is removed or backed out of the knob 29 and said knob is slid downwardly on the sleeve 25 to the lower end of the slot 2. Consequently when the knob 29 is rotated the sleeve 25 can move axially since it is not held now against axial movement by the flange 25 and the knob 29 engaging the base l0 of the support S. Therefore said sleeve 25 will screw inwardly or outwardly on the tubular member 2| when the knob is rotated, and since the rod 49 engages the closed end of the sleeve said rod can be pushed upwardly when said sleeve is screwed upwardly on the tubular member 2|, with the result that the patch 48 will be moved into tight engagement with the tread portion of the casing and said portion will be rmly clamped between said patch and the disk carried by the heat producing member on the other side of the tread portion of the casing and connected to the connecting member 59. The manner in which the vulcanizing heat is produced and the circuit used therefor can be the same as described in connection with the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the portable repair unit can be used with facility for repairing either the side walls or the tread portion of a tire casing and that such dual use is accomplished by making a few simple changes and substitutions in the arrangement yand parts of the device.

In Figs. '7 and 8 the heat producing member and the disk carried thereby are connected to the lever arm in a slightly diiferent way than has been previously described. In this form the disk indicated at 52 is provided with spring arms 53 which snap into recesses formed in the periphery of the plate 4! and act to hold the disk yassembled with respect to the heat producing member. Instead of the heat producing member being held by spring fingers in the strap 34 it is attached to a U-shaped element 54 which in turn is connected to the free ends of the lever arm I6 or to the rod 49 or connecting member 50 as the case may be. The hollow rivet 45 of the heat producing member may have -a disk 55 located therein and which carries a screw 56 that can be screwed into an opening in the closed end of the U-shaped member 54, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

In view of the detailed description hereinbefore set forth it will be seen that a portable repair unit embodying the invention attains the objects specied and can be readily and eiciently employed for repairing the side walls or the tread portion of a tire casing.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of Various modifications and adaptations within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A portable tire casing repair unit comprising opposed supporting means adapted to be arranged one within the casing and one exteriorly of the casing, pressure applying means operatively associated with said opposed supporting means and adapted to grip the casing therebetween, one of said pressure applying means including a heat producing member and a repair patch carrying member, relatively movable members operatively associated with said opposed supporting means and adapted to be arranged with one member entirely exteriorly of said casing and :the other member extending into said'casing, and -means for actuating said relatively movable `members toward and away from `each other .and including a support, Va threadedmember rotatably `carried byfsaid support, asecondthreaded memiber having telescopic engagement with said first threaded member and axial movement relative thereto, vand operative connections between said :relatively movable members and said threaded members-and carried by said support.

2. A portable tire casing repair unit comprising opposedsupporting means adapted to be arranged .one within the casing and one eXteriorly of the lcasing, pressure applying means associated with `said topposed supporting means and adapted to :grip the casing therebetween, one of said pressure applying means including a heat producing mem- :ber and a repair 'patch carrying member, rela- -tively movable members operatively associated with said opposed supporting means and adapted 4to be arranged with one member entirely exteriorly of said casing and the other member extending into said casing; `and means for actuating said relatively movable members toward `and away from each other and including a support-a l'threaded member rotatably carried by said suppor-t, a second threaded member having telescopic engagement with said -rst threaded mem- .lber and axial movement rela-tive thereto; and operati-ve connections between said movable mem- :bers and sai'd threaded members and including a plate niemberconnected with one of said threaded members and links connecting said plate with at least one of said relatively movable members.

y3. A portable tire casing repair unit comprising a support, lever arms rockably carried by said .support and adapted to be larranged with one lever arm entirely exteriorly of said casing and the .other lever arm extending into said casing, sup- VVporting members attached to said lever arms and adapted to be arranged one within the casing and Vone exteriorly of the casing, vpressure applying /means Icarried lby said supporting members and vadapted to grip the casing therebetween, one of Said pressure applying means including a heat .producing member and a repair patch carrying member, and means carried by said support for rocking said lever arms toward and from each other.

l4. A portable tire casing repair unit comprising a support, a threaded member rotatably carried .by said support and held against axial movement relative thereto, a second threaded member having vtelescopic threaded engagement with said vfirst threaded member and movable axiallyrelatively thereto upon rotation of Asaid first threaded member, lever arms rockably mounted on said support and adapted to be arranged one entirely exteriorly of the tire casing and one extending into said tire casing, operative connections 'between said second threaded member and said lever arms, supporting members detachably con-- nected to said lever arms with onelocated within the tire casing and one without the tire casing, and pressure applying means carried by said supporting members and adapted to grip the casing therebetween, one of said pressure applying means including a Yheat producing member and a repair patch carrying member.

45. vA portable tire casingrepair unit comprising' asupport, an internally threaded sleeve .rotatably and axially movable in said support and which sleeve 'has one end closed Vand the other end open, .an externally threaded tubular member screwed into said sleeve, a rod extending through said tubular member and engaging the `closed end of said sleeve and adapted to extend intothe tire casing, 4lever arms mounted on said support adjacent the :opposite ends thereof, a connecting member deta'chably secured to the free ends of said lever yarms, said connecting member and said lever arms 4adapted to be arranged exteriorly of the tire casing, connections between said tubular member and said lever arms, said connecting member and said rod having detachably secured thereto supporting members arranged in opposed relationship one ex- 4teriorly of the casing and one Within the casing, and pressure applying means carried by said supporting members and adapted to grip the casing therebetween, one of said pressure applying means including `a heat producing member and a yrepair patch carrying member.

i6, A portable tire casing repair unit comprising opposedsupporting means adapted to be arranged one within the casing and one exteriorly of the casing, pressure applying means carried by said opposed supporting means and adapted to grip `the casing therebetween, one of said pressure applying means including a heat producing member and a repair patch carrying member, relatively movable members operatively associated with-said opposed supporting means and adapted to -be arranged with one 4member entirely exteriorly of said vcasing and the other member extending into said casing` and means for actuating said relatively movable members toward and away from each other and including a. support, an internally threaded sleeve rotatably carried bysaid support, said sleeve having one end closed and the other -end open and provided adjacent its open end with an external :flange and adjacent its closed end with an elongated axially extending slot, saidsleeve also being provided with an opening diametrically opposed to the inner end of said slot, a knob mounted on said sleeve and having an element exten-ding into said slot, wherefore rotation of said knob rotates said sleeve, said knob being provided with a threaded opening adapted to receive a locking screw extending into said opening in the sleeve. wherefore said sleeve can be locked against axial movement relative to said support by the engagement with said support of said annular flange and said knob, a tubular externally threaded member screwed into said sleeve through the open end thereof, and operative connections between said movable members, said .sleeve Vand said tubular member.

JOHN C. CROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS :Number Name Date Re. 21,230 Crowley Oct. 10, 1939 57,447 Stockman Aug, 21, 1866 1,718,485 OSullivan June 25, 1929 1,829,778 Barton Nov, 3, 1981 2,158,703 Kite, May 16, 1939 2,249,249 Meath July 15, 1941 2,290,343 Martin July 2l, 1942 2,347,952 James May 2, 1944 

